NU Office of Fellowships

05/06/2026

Last year, Jane Clarke (WCAS ’24) won the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Through the award, Jane is pursuing an MPhil in American History at the University of Cambridge, where she is conducting research on children’s literature and empire in Britain and America in the early twentieth century. Her dissertation focuses on iconic works like “Tarzan” and “The Jungle Book,” exploring their cultural and historical impact. Alongside her academic work, Jane has been involved in the Gates Cambridge community; she serves as the alumni officer on the Gates Student Council and participates in college life at Jesus College, including rowing with the boat club.

“As corny as it is to say,” Jane told us, “I’ve learned as much outside of the classroom as in it. Cambridge is a truly international community, and it’s been amazing to interact with people from around the world. The Gates community, in particular, has been a very enriching experience. It’s wonderful to be around people who care so deeply about making an impact on the world. Also, I’m trying to pick up the best British phrases (my favorites are ‘I’m keen’ and ‘not fussed’).”

Through her time at Cambridge, Jane has embraced both academic and personal growth, engaging in interdisciplinary research, building global connections, and taking full advantage of opportunities to travel across Europe. She continues to explore how literature shapes historical narratives and cultural identity while contributing to a vibrant international scholarly community.

In the first photo, you can see Jane punting on the River Cam.

In the second photo, she is pictured with the 2025 Gates Scholars cohort during their orientation retreat in the Peaks District.

In the final photo, Jane is rowing with the Jesus College W4 Lent Bumps boat—one of her favorite Cambridge experiences.

We get so much from seeing the impact our make with their awards! 🇬🇧📚🚣‍♀️

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04/28/2026

Last month, Dasha Dubinina (Medill ’28) attended the McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character, in West Point, New York, where she met top undergraduates from across the globe to learn from mentors, bolster leadership skills, and foster collaboration.

With support from the US Military Academy and the Office of Fellowships, Dasha had a transformative experience at the conference:

“The McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character was one of the most formative experiences of my life. I’ll admit that I didn’t expect a conference to open with the 6 am workouts. But that choice said everything about what those days would demand: showing up fully, despite the discomfort.

The centerpiece of the program was mentorship with senior fellows, so I had the privilege of being paired with Holly Ridings, NASA’s first female chief flight director. What struck me most wasn’t any single conversation, but a realization that the leaders I admired most here led through their story rather than work titles. They could articulate why their work mattered—to their teams, to the mission, to something larger than themselves.

I’m leaving West Point more committed than ever to building the capacities that make that kind of leadership possible: resilience under uncertainty, openness to hard feedback, and the discipline to make decisions that are strategic, not just reactive.”

In the first photo, you can see Dasha posing with Holly Ridings, and in the second photo, she poses with Bob McDonald, the founding benefactor of the conference.

In the final photo, you can see Dasha posing with several participants in the conference.

It gives us tremendous to see our develop such profound skills and perspectives! 🌎🇺🇸

leader leadership character conference northwestern

12/09/2025

Karo Harutyunyan (WCAS ’28) was selected as one of seven World Trade Organization (WTO) Young Trade Leaders to represent the European continent in the program’s second cohort. Through collaboration with Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships, Karo earned a place in this prestigious initiative that connects youth leaders with the global trade community. Launched in 2024, Young Trade Leaders aims to bring young people closer to the WTO’s work and foster better understanding of its role in supporting international trade. The selected leaders participate in training sessions, receive mentorship from the WTO secretariat, and contribute to youth-led projects promoting inclusive and sustainable trade.

Reflecting on his motivation, Karo shared:

“I applied to the Young Trade Leaders Program because I believe it provides a great chance to deepen my understanding of the WTO and international trade while connecting with global networks of young leaders who want to make trade more inclusive and sustainable. I think young people’s voices are essential because we are the generation who’s going to inherit the impacts of the decisions being made today—and we also bring urgency, creativity, and vision that’s going to shape a more just future.”

In the first photo, Karo (kneeling in the middle) and his fellow Young Trade Leaders pose with program coordinators for a group photo at the WTO Headquarter in Geneva.

In the second photo, Karo and his fellow Young Trade Leaders meet with Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

In the final photo, Karo takes part in the panel “Breaking New Ground: Priorities for Trade’s Next Generation,” where he shared his vision of trade as a tool for fostering peace and stability in conflict regions.

go to the most amazing places with their awards! 🌍🇨🇭💶

11/17/2025

Meet Northwestern University's new Rhodes Scholar, In'utu Imbuwa!

In'utu is a student at Northwestern University in Qatar and won the Rhodes Scholarship for the Zambia constituency!

Read more about In'utu's journey to NUQ and remarkable research at the link below!

In’utu Imbuwa, a graduate from Northwestern University in Qatar’s Class of 2025, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, earning one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors and becoming the school’s second recipient of the award.

10/22/2025

Ethan Barnes (WCAS ’26), a fourth-year student majoring in political science, was named the 2025 Harry S. Truman Scholar representing Washington, DC—an award for students committed to careers in public service. With the scholarship’s support, he plans to pursue a career in law focused on criminal justice reform and civil rights enforcement.

On campus, Ethan has been engaged in research on national policing-reform policy, with an emphasis on how Congress responds to high-profile incidents of police violence. He has also studied how police departments handle mental health crises, comparing the cost-effectiveness of community response teams with advanced de-escalation training. Through this work, Ethan aims to develop reforms that strengthen accountability while building trust between law enforcement and communities.

When asked about the most meaningful part of his research, Ethan highlighted the chance to connect scholarship with real-world impact:

“Studying policing reform isn’t just an academic exercise for me—it’s about helping design systems that respect human dignity. The most powerful moments have been working with mentors and peers who believe in bridging divides to create lasting change.”

Alongside his academic pursuits, Ethan has been involved in student orgs, mentorship initiatives, and advocacy projects dedicated to bridging communities across lines of difference. He hopes to carry the lessons learned at Northwestern to his future work in Washington, DC, and beyond.

In the photo, you can see Ethan (right) posing with fellow Truman scholar Luke Magyar, who attends the University of Chicago and hails from North Carolina. Ethan and Luke were attending Truman Scholars Leadership Week, at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.

We get so much from seeing our amazing build connections and make a difference through fellowships! 🌎🇺🇸🏛️

10/15/2025

Adithi Adusumilli (WCAS ’26) was named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar for her research in systems neuroscience. A double major in neuroscience and data science with a minor in global health studies, Adithi works in the Miri Lab at Northwestern University, where she studies how pyramidal neurons and interneurons in the primary motor cortex of mice work distinctly, yet cooperatively, to shape behavior. Her project leverages high-density neuropixel recordings of neural activity alongside EMG recordings of muscle activity to understand how these neural subpopulations contribute to naturalistic movement.

Reflecting on the honor, she says:

“I am incredibly grateful to have been selected as a Goldwater Scholar. Alongside the relationships and opportunities it has brought my way, the application process itself challenged me to think more deeply about my research and better articulate why it matters. I know this will prepare me for an MD-PhD career in translational neuroscience. Moreover, this recognition not only represents my own work, but also that of my many mentors who have guided me every step of the way.”

In the first photo, she is pictured with a poster detailing her work in the Miri Lab, presented at the St. Jude National Symposium for Predoctoral Research in Memphis, Tennessee.

In the second photo, you can see Adithi and fellow 2025 Northwestern University Goldwater Scholar Jonathan Chen.

Our are simply amazing!

10/13/2025

Congratulations to Klara Vinn (WCAS '27) and Justine Liu (WCAS '27) on being named Northwestern's new Voyager Scholars!

Read more about Klara and Justine's commitment to and accomplishments in public service at the link below!

Justine Liu and Klara Vinn, both third-years in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have been named recipients of the prestigious Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, known as the Voyager Scholarship.

10/09/2025

In 2024, Brandon Hikaru Takahashi (WCAS ‘26) was selected for the Stanford University Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) program. During the program, Brandon participated in a socioecological research project on the Pillar Point tidepool ecosystem and harvest zone in Half Moon Bay, California, where he conducted interviews with local community members, fishers, harvesters, and other visitors to evaluate ecosystem changes over time.

“The best part of my 2024 SURGE experience was meeting so many like-minded peers and mentors with a passion for sustainability and equity. Through alumni career panels, discussions with professors, and fieldwork with my research team, I learned about the ways I can make a positive impact on the environment while also uplifting underrepresented voices in these fields. As I move on to my graduate studies and professional career, I will use the lessons I have learned through SURGE to further explore the intersection between natural environments and the human communities that rely on these spaces.”

Even after the program, Brandon has continued to work as a member of the Pillar Point research team under the mentorship of Marina Luccioni and his Northwestern PI, Melissa S. Rosenzweig. He plans to pursue a joint environmental law and environmental science graduate program and address such issues as urban pollution management and water rights.

In the first photo, you can see Brandon, proud and exhausted, after catching a monstrous shore crab.

In the second photo, you can see Brandon onsite at the Pillar Point Tidepools.

In the final photo, he is posing with some of his SURGE cohort members before their research symposium.

We get so much from seeing the impact our make with their awards! 🌎🇺🇸🦀

08/25/2025

Meet Northwestern's new winner of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress At-Large Fellowship, Evelyn Heath (Medill '27)!

Read more about Evelyn's journey in research and public policy at the link below!

https://www.northwestern.edu/fellowships/about/news/all-news/journalism-major-lands-fellowship-to-study-government.html